1. I Can…… Vocabulary 5 1 Sentence Stems Bump Up What Came Before
RL Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Grade 3
Ask and answer questions (who, what, when, why, where)
Refer to text to answer why type questions.
Grade 4
Identify or refer to details and examples to explain what the text says explicitly
(right there) or when making inferences (ideas based on your thinking about the text)
Quote accurately from the text to support my thinking.
Give specific examples and details to support inferences
Bump Up
Grade 6
Cite the text when giving textual evidence.
Use the author’s name or expressions like, the author states, or in the author’s opinion when quoting from the texts
I can infer…..
I think … because ____ says…… and also ____ does…….
I can conclude from this scene/story…….the character will….. because….
When I read _____ it made me realize….This is important because…. The character is acting/ feeling/saying…..This tells me…..
Based on… I feel the author wrote this passage to show….
• explicit
• inference
• textual evidence
• conclude
• author’s purpose
• quote
Sentence Stems
I Can……
What Came Before
Vocabulary 5 1

2. Determining theme steps
RL 5.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.
Grade 3
Retell stories in sequential order
Determine the central message, or lesson
Explain how the central message, lesson, or moral is conveyed through key detail
Grade 4
Determine the universal theme or main message of the text
Support the identification of the theme by giving details from the text. Summarize the text
Identify themes in stories, dramas, or poems as a statement not a word.
Identify the theme using details from several parts of the text.
Understand that characters respond to challenges in different ways, such as internally or externally. Tie to the theme.
Summarize the text based on theme, or character analysis
Start with the gist of the story.
Choose a theme (Sometimes in life….)
Find specific evidence from the beginning, middle and end of the story. Use quotes.
Explain why this theme is important.
Explain how the author showed the theme (through the character’s actions, a symbol, ah-ha moment, word choice…)
• theme
poem
details
characters
reflects
topic
summarize
conflict
resolution
solution
Bump Up
Grade 6
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
Determining theme steps
I Can……
What Came Before
Vocabulary 5 2

3. I Can…… Vocabulary 5 3 Question Stems… What Came Before
RL 5.3 Compare and contrast two more characters, settings or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact)
Grade 3
Understand the sequence of events in a story
Identify and describe major/minor characters by citing their traits, motivations, and emotions
Understand and explain how the characters’ actions contribute to major and minor events of the story
Grade 4
Identify and describe a character
Identify and describe the setting (time, place and social environment)
Describe or sequence an event in a story or drama
Provide specific details when describing a character, setting or event in a story.
Recognize what a character says, thinks or does
Identify the characters, setting and major events of a story
Compare and contrast two or more characters, setting and events in a story or drama
Provide specific details when describing the interactions between characters
Provide specific details when comparing or contrasting settings or events.
What can you tell me about these characters?
In what ways do the characters think alike/differently?
How does this contrast affect the outcome?
In what way do different settings in the story affect the outcome?
Which details does the author provide to show us how the characters act with each other?
What attitude did the characters display?
What do___________ and ____________ have in common?
How does the dialogue help you understand the characters and their actions?
• theme
compare
contrast
describe
character/character trait
dialogue
analyze
Bump Up
Grade 6
Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
Question Stems…
I Can……
What Came Before
Vocabulary 5 3